(CNN) - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's prolonged campaign to reject $700 million in federal stimulus funds - an effort that earned him praise from some national conservatives but also angered many in his own state - appears to have come to an end.

The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that the governor must accept the federal cash designated for education funding.

Sanford, who might run for president in 2012, had resisted taking the money even when the Republican-controlled state legislature passed a budget that included the funds.

The court on Thursday stated that "under South Carolina law, the General Assembly has the sole authority to direct the appropriation of funds and, therefore, is the entity which decides whether the State desires to receive the funds."

Students and education officials in the state filed lawsuits last month demanding that the governor take the money, and Sanford tried to have the lawsuits merged and heard in federal court. On Monday, however, a federal judge rejected that attempt, and said that the South Carolina Supreme Court must decide what to do.

Sanford has scheduled a press conference on the decision this afternoon. He said earlier this week that he will not appeal the South Carolina Supreme Court's decision.

soundoff(160 Responses)

arithmetic is liberal

Rob June 4th, 2009 4:45 pm ET
All part of Barry, Nancy, and Harry's plan to shift this country from states first to federal first. Maybe Barry will 'convince' governors he don't like to retire (like he did the CEO of GM).

I didn't see you coming to California's defense in lieu of state's rights when Bush trampled all over our emissions standards.

I guess states should only be allowed rights when they are governed by Republicans who want to screw the taxpayers out of what they're entitled to as Americans.

June 4, 2009 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

walleye

He was hoping the majority of the people in his state would back him up. Obviously they NEED the $$ to help them out just as other states do. What a MORON. He wont go very far.

June 4, 2009 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

arithmetic is liberal

The Broker. June 4th, 2009 5:07 pm ET
The right words. And I'm the only Psychic. Israel will attack Lebenon again. But this time with Nuke's. CNN's praise for the Idiot Obama will just add to the Fuel. But then I am The Psychic, not you….

Please stop eating acid before you post.

June 4, 2009 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |

LacrosseMom

@ Independent Again....... You do realize don't you? That we WERE BANKRUPTED BY BUSH??? RIGHT??? Bush *** doubled *** the national debt in 8 years!

Bush left an economic disaster for Obama to solve! Before you blame Obama for increasing the national debt.......... you have to go back in history and read about what FDR did during the Great Depression!

IF you read history, during the Great Depressing FDR had a staggering debt, in order to INVEST in our Nation, put Americans back to work! We did pay that debt off .......... and we will again!

Its crucial that America become a leader in alternative fuels, Green energy, etc., that WILL ensure that we become prosperous once again!

PS. Independent Again...... Bush's Budget Deficit for fiscal 2009, a budget inherited by Obama....... was ONE TRILLION........ the biggest in our Nation's history. IF you have any solutions why don't you offer them? Criticizing Obama is easy....... but... where are the GOP solutions????

June 4, 2009 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |

Kelby In Houston, TX

Dear Sout Carolinians,
Please vote Democrat. This is the party for the people. We believe that our government should help people that can not help themselves...not a government hand out. We are reasonable and allow competing ideas in order to make better policy and you would not have to fight for the stimulus money your state so deperately needs.
VOTE DEMOCRAT! for the peopele's sake VOTE DEMOCRAT!
Improve education and create more jobs VOTE DEMOCRAT!

June 4, 2009 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |

phoenix86

How unfortunate that judges can determine that it is better for the state that its children be indebted for generations in order to lap up tax dollars and spend it on temporary projects that don't work.

Rome is burning, Obama is clueless and Obamabots want to be diluded and taken care of. They apparently don't want to be responsible for themselves any longer (must have screwed it up the first time).

June 4, 2009 05:16 pm at 5:16 pm |

Tom

You libs have it right just wait until your taxes go sky hi and you say what did we do wrong you and labomba will be eating your lib. pie
which won't be like free candy you are now getting

June 4, 2009 05:16 pm at 5:16 pm |

donttreadonme

Had It June 4th, 2009 5:03 pm ET
Bet he would have accepted the money if it had been for the wealthy white men's golf courses.
Time to rid SC of bigotry and get someone that cares about the weakest and the littlest — not just the wealthiest white people.
i'm white.
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White and rascist against your own race....typical liberal guilt!

June 4, 2009 05:16 pm at 5:16 pm |

Ken

Another maggot slapped silly until he goes down. Remant [R]s are like the Nazis in the spring of 1945 - despite seeing the writing on the wall, they are determined to bring their rightwing world view to its delusional conclusion.

June 4, 2009 05:16 pm at 5:16 pm |

donttreadonme

Liberals = race baiting + class warfare!

June 4, 2009 05:19 pm at 5:19 pm |

Tom

Greg in SFO
the only way you will get out of your bankrupted state is to move out
you libs have given your state away to freeloader and now you are crying

June 4, 2009 05:19 pm at 5:19 pm |

JT

WEAK, weak governor. Sanford – the people of SC have educated themselves enough to know that you were using them to grand stand at their expense.

-You short changed the children of SC by not providing for their education.
-You short changed the people of SC by not fighting for accessible health care.
-You short changed SC industry and desperately needed jobs that goes along with that by not providing the necessary climate for businesses to stay or relocate there.
-You short changed the infrastructure of the state. It's roads are worn and crumbling. The entire state looks like a ran-sacked trailer park/truck stop.
-You short changed people of color, women, gays, and people of diverse backgrounds and religion. Your position on them has been heard across the country.

And I am an EX-conservative from what remains in the state of SC.

June 4, 2009 05:20 pm at 5:20 pm |

donttreadonme

By the way there are way more "white people" living below the poverty level than all other races combined! Poverty doesn't exclude itself to skin color.

June 4, 2009 05:22 pm at 5:22 pm |

GOPbslapper

His state has the highest unemployment rate in the country and schools that are literally falling apart. He's SOME kind of Governor, just not the kind that serves his constituants well.

donttreadonme June 4th, 2009 5:12 pm ET
arithmetic is liberal June 4th, 2009 4:59 pm ET
" A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take all you have".

Actually, that was another President, Gerald Ford in an address to a joint session of Congress on August 14, 1974.
—————————————————————————————-
Ever think that that Ford was quoting Jefferson??? Doh! Stick to your liberal arithmetic.

Back then governments didn't do anything for anyone except the KING. This was the age of the "divine right of kings" before constitutional monarchies, federal republics, democracies, or the like. There was a king ordained by God who took tribute from his vassals and serfs, and gave nothing back except protection from wholesale slaughter in times of invasion.

I mean, come on, man. Even someone with the most basic understanding of history can see that. Just because someone on a libertarian website attributed that to Jefferson in bright lime green blinking size six font doesn't mean Jefferson said it.

Your "logic" just makes you look like an ignoramus. It's better to shut your mouth and be thought a fool than open it and prove you are a fool.

June 4, 2009 05:26 pm at 5:26 pm |

forwardgal

Would this loser please get lost?! He is so stupid and arrogant it defies the imagination. How dare he punish SC citizens because he is trying to run for public office with the rightwingnut group.

June 4, 2009 05:28 pm at 5:28 pm |

Unhappy Dem

We would have plenty of our own oil and gas right here if they would open up for drilling every where.I have plenty of oil and gas rigs around me with no detrimental effects so far. The fishing is great around them. And as far as the "green BS" and "global warming BS",it snowed 4" in New Orleans this year. Oh well, Al Gore is just making a living.

June 4, 2009 05:29 pm at 5:29 pm |

arithmetic is liberal

donttreadonme June 4th, 2009 5:22 pm ET
By the way there are way more "white people" living below the poverty level than all other races combined! Poverty doesn't exclude itself to skin color.

Exactly. But you're content to lick the boot heels of the aristocracy than to help out your fellow white middle and lower middle class citizens.

You've been duped in a sad, sad way.

June 4, 2009 05:29 pm at 5:29 pm |

Moderate Democrat

"The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that the governor must accept the federal cash designated for education funding."

This infuriates republicans/conservatives. They just want to keep the population stupid. They realize It's the only way they can get voters.

June 4, 2009 05:29 pm at 5:29 pm |

Claudia in Houson

Sanford is just another poor example of someone who should never be sitting in the governors seat.

June 4, 2009 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

donttreadonme

His state has the highest unemployment rate in the country and schools that are literally falling apart.
-------------------------------
Everyone cries about the schools and Education until a referendum comes along for more money and everyone votes no! Happens everytime it is like pulling teeth!

June 4, 2009 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

kygirl

To donttreadonme:
"By the way there are way more "white people" living below the poverty level than all other races combined! Poverty doesn't exclude itself to skin color."

Uh-duhh! Nobody disputes that. What is said is the percentage of african-americans compared to percentage of caucasian americans under the poverty line. If you check your statistics, the numbers are staggering. I am no way saying that "white people" are to blame, but there is definitely a problem.

June 4, 2009 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

Irma in North Carolina

What business does Sarah have tell the president how to run this country. She cant even run her own state or her own family. I hope Alaska would suceed from the union. Then all the Alaska people could have her as their president and she should take, Newt, Rush, Coulter, Ingram and Cheny. They could all be her cabinet members. Then we would not have to worry about her comming to the lower 48 and run her mouth.